2010-09-13
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Cousin Dave
In true form to my impossible-to-predict nature, I’m going to put the (first) tangent right at the start of this entry. I’ve always really liked Sade’s music. It’s smooth, sultry, and heartfelt. A few months ago she put out a new CD called “Soldier of Love”, which I’m sorry to say left me feeling very disappointed. I don’t hate it, it’s got a catchy tune or two, but mostly it’s just…stale and bland. Bummer. In other news, I’m just back to Spokane following a 3-day stint in Denver. Normally I would go home for 4 days, but I’ve got a standing meeting every Monday afternoon, and The Girl has work and School on Thursday, so there’s no real benefit to me going home on Thursdays. I’d rather spend some quality time than just hang at home. Still, it’s very nice to sleep in my own bed, even if it is only every other weekend. On Labor Day weekend I spent about 8 hours in the car, driving to Hamilton, Montana to visit my cousin, Dave. Dave and I had lost touch in the early 80’s, and found one another last summer, thanks to Facebook. Facebook is very commercial, is always trying to sell me things, and I pretty much have had to block every single game and bullshit application so that I don’t have all the spams from them in my data stream or on my wall. Tangent. I found out that Dave was only about 230 miles away, and from Spokane to Hamilton is truly a spectacular drive. I’m pretty sure that I mentioned that we went to a Demolition Derby last year during Labor Day weekend. It was the County Fair and all. I had never seen a demolition derby before, and it was one the most redneck, America! Fuck yeah! Sort of events that I had ever been to or could imagine. I had a blast. We were going to attend this year too, and I was really looking forward to it, but they postponed it at the last minute. Damn. So I went out anyways, but only for a day. We pretty much just went out to eat and hung out at his place, but that was fun. Oh, and we put a new filter on his fish tank. Good times. Dave and I were so long out of touch mostly because we hadn’t spoken since we were kids, and since we grew up in different states, we never really knew each other. Plus I knew that he was (had been) in the Army, and didn’t even know where to begin looking. Once we found where the other was, however, we had some phone conversations and I can tell you honestly that I couldn’t wait to ‘meet’ him again. After arriving last year and our sizing up of one another, updating our memory-misted mental picture of what the other looked like, I met his wife and we commenced with laughing, joking, talking, feeding off of each other and all in all having a great time. One would expect that after 28 years, it would be a little awkward. It wasn’t. Brittany (Dave’s wife) was absolutely incredulous that we were basically strangers. He’s just 2 years older than me or so, and for that reason we had a lot of things is common, especially music. Way more than that though, our behaviors, likes and dislikes are really well-aligned. We think alike and there is just no doubt that we’re related. I honestly feel closer to him that I do to my actual brother. Weird. Dave doesn’t get on well with his side of the family, but it’s really no one’s business why. Everyone has his/her own life to lead, and Dave’s relationship with everyone else has nothing to do with me. My relationship with him is what affects me, and he’s a great dude whom I get along with well. Oddly enough, just about everyone in my family has been pissed off or at odds with other members of the family at some point, but I’ve always been able to get along with everyone. I know that every person has their own issues, secrets, peccadilloes, idiosyncracies, and the like. I accept them – they’re my family! – and just don’t hold grudges. I wish that this attitude went out to everyone, but alas, it does not. Side note: I’m writing this on an airplane and the flight attendant just told me that I can’t use a wireless mouse on the plane. Really? Come on, people. I can’t take over the navigation systems with an optical mouse. Or can I? BWAHAHAHA. So, to wrap it up, I’m back to work for a while. I’ll write back if something eventful happens. Ta ta!
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